Sphinx Riddles of Poor Quality

Literally just chilling here. Love Jesus, cute fantasy stuff, and dinosaurs. Grown adult, but keep shii PG ✨✨✨

[madamesphinxie]

So is Arken paralyzed or just temporarily wheelchair bound? Because that’d be a thematic choice that scratches an itch in my lizard brain. I’ve said it before: where Amara is a hare, Arken is a tortoise. He battens down to prepare for the worst and retreats into himself when faced with the turmoil of Amara leaving, but won’t take an offensive strategy in defending Azuria from Aenshin and the Encroachment. He’s right to be careful and distrustful of Vermeil’s methods considering they are actively repeating the transgressions from 200 years ago. Amara made an active choice to defy the Covenant, but in doing it alone (or with the help of a chronically ill 10-year-old, but that’s not that much better) she’s horribly injured and loses her memories. Arken chooses to remain still and where that is the right call in some places, his passiveness becomes stagnation. It leads to his child— his only child —to pick up the pieces and when he finally takes action, he’s severely hurt. (Honestly it’s a miracle he didn’t die, that was like a 100 ft fall with force, so being paralyzed was the least of his worries.) We never see Arken on his feet after that, so I think it’s left purposely ambiguous. But whether permanent or not, there is still that theme: there’s stagnation in body and consumption by the very curse he tried to avoid, but he in spirit now wants to take an active role in saving the kingdom with his child. He faced that threat head on to protect his only child, and though he must live with the physical consequences, he can now be an positive force in the life of the heir and restore their relationship. 

(But he still misses his wife. He misses her a lot. Hopefully she’ll be back.)

[madamesphinxie]

So did Simon kick Rudy to get him out of the way of the attack? Because he was right by Simon’s leg on the opposite side of where the Heir was supporting him. Did Simon just lovingly punt the lil guy like a football to save his life? Just launch the little furball to safety?

[missanxietea]

Extraction

Part 5

Pairing: Simon x F! Heir/F! Reader Word count: 4571 Spoilers: Yes Part One │Part Two │Part Three │Part Four (AN: I truly didn't mean to disappear on everyone. Things got overwhelming for a bit between car issues and the end of the school year, plus a good friend moved away and I was busy trying to cram as much time in with them as I could. The GOOD news is that I did manage to get some writing and re-writing done while I was away, and most of the end is written and is being cleaned up so there shouldn't be any more long gaps between parts. THANK YOU ❤️❤️❤️ for your patience and support!)

Your little group is silent as you navigate dark, narrow alleys toward the northern edges of the city. Though she hardly seems the type to frequent Galyad’s backstreets, Ena does not hesitate as she leads you through the narrow passageways. If there is anyone else out tonight, you don’t see them – and you’re grateful for that, as this seems to be a particularly rough part of town.

Finally you emerge from the maze. The sand is lapping at the edges of the city here, but deep in the shadows of the densely packed buildings you can just make out a narrow pier and a waiting skiff. Both have seen better days, but you don’t have time to worry about the soundness of the vessel.

“Corbin is waiting in the boat,” Ena tells you. “He can take you to your Rathalos, and from there you can make for the Sacrosanctum once more. I must warn you: it will be difficult to reach the heart of the Sacrosanctum without being discovered by Vermeil’s forces.”

“We’ll find a way,” you reply, reaching out to clasp her hands. “I can’t thank you enough, Lady Ena.”

She shakes her head. “No thanks are necessary. I only hope you can reach Aenshin’s egg in time. Now go; the cover of night won’t last long, and you have quite a journey ahead of you.”

You nod and turn to the pier with Simon at your heels. It creaks unpleasantly under your feet, but you make it to the skiff without plunging through the rotting planks, and Corbin reaches out to help you board the boat.

“Good to see you again,” he says, and for once he doesn’t sound like he’s joking. “Let’s get going. Just, uh – make sure to hold on. This thing is liable to get tossed about on those bigger duneswells, and sand’s a lot less forgiving than water.”

Simon follows you into the skiff, and with a lurch you’re underway once more. In the silence of the night, you can hear the hiss of the sand as you skim over it. Corbin’s right about the ride; in such a small boat, skating over the swells feels like sliding down the side of a cliff, but with the night breeze behind your sail, you make good progress.

The dunes go on for miles, and it is a long time before you spot a small refuge. You’ve sailed almost due north, with nothing to see beyond occasional glimpses of the mountains to the east. Now at last you catch sight of a rocky island, jutting up out of the sandsea all by itself. It is featureless and unremarkable apart from a wide littoral cave, and Corbin aims the skiff directly toward its opening. You and Simon both look up as you pass into the sheltering rock, but the cave is as unremarkable as the rest of the island…apart from another small pier hidden beyond a jut of stone.

“Lots of smugglers drop by, for obvious reasons.” Corbin catches sight of the look on Simon’s face and grins. “Don’t worry. Galyad sends some guardsmen through every so often to clean the riffraff out. We’ve got the place to ourselves.”

Then you hear a familiar rumble from deeper in the cave, and Corbin’s grin widens. “Well, we’ve almost got the place to ourselves.”

You hardly wait for him to tie the boat to the pilings before you’re rushing forward, eager to reunite with Ratha. Simon follows more slowly, clearly apprehensive of his reception, but Ratha lumbers forward to greet you both, nearly knocking you over as he tries to nuzzle you with a little too much enthusiasm. While he doesn’t show the same affection to your companion, he at least doesn’t seem too perturbed that Simon is with you. It’s a far cry from the relationship they used to have, but you’re glad that for now at least Ratha is willing to accept him for your sake.

You turn back to Corbin, who is still sitting in the boat with a fond look on his face as he watches you with your monstie. He gives you a lazy salute.

“I figure you’ve got it from here,” he says, “but I’ll see what I can do about mustering some reinforcements anyway.”

“Thank you, Corbin. I don’t know what we would have done without you,” you tell him. He flaps his hands at you and shakes his head.

“No need for any of that. Just be safe out there,” he replies, and a few moments later the skiff is unmoored and on its way.

“There’s still a few hours of darkness left,” you say to Simon. “Let’s get moving.”

You stride past him toward Ratha, but Simon catches your arm.

“Hold on…Fiero still has the other Skyscale.”

You look up into his troubled eyes and feel a pang of guilt. “I know,” you tell him, “but we’re short on time. If we go after your Rathalos, we might lose the egg.”

“It’s too dangerous to leave him in Fiero’s hands. We’d stand no chance against him, even with Ratha on our side.”

“And we stand no chance of getting him back without the rest of the Rangers.” You rest your free hand over his where he still grips your arm. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to abandon your monstie, Simon. But we don’t have the time or resources to rescue him.”

“Fiero isn’t the only danger. Aenshin will destroy us without both Skyscales,” he warns you.

“One problem at a time. We’ve got to beat Vermeil to the egg, then we can get your Rathalos back.”

He isn’t happy about it, but he must see the sense in your logic because he drops the argument. You clamor up into Ratha’s saddle and he follows behind you a second later, his body warm and solid at your back. Maybe you shouldn’t find it comforting after everything that’s happened, but your tension still eases knowing he’s with you.

The flight is long, and the night grows colder as you strike out over the Silver Sea. Soon you’re shivering under your cloak, and your fingers are going stiff around Ratha’s saddle. If Simon is as cold as you are, he doesn’t say anything about it. In fact, he’s been quiet for most of the flight, but you can’t blame him. You don’t know what to say either.

That’s why it's so shocking when he leans forward and curves his arms around you, placing his warm palms over your hands on the saddle and letting his body heat sink into you.

“Simon?” Your voice is thready and breathless, which makes you blush.

He turns his face so you can’t catch sight of him over your shoulder, but you think he might be blushing too. “We’ve come this far. It would be a shame if you got hypothermia now.”

Maybe it’s wrong. Maybe you’re once again falling prey to your naive and trusting nature. You find yourself relaxing into his embrace anyway.

Another ten minutes go by before you speak again, but finally you can’t bring yourself to stay silent anymore.

“Did you mean it…when you said you can’t lose me?”

He goes very still behind you. Then he exhales and you shiver again as his warm breath stirs the hood near your ear.

“I meant it,” he says.

“When this is over…what happens then?”

“I suppose I’ll go home and see what I can do to help my village, cure or no cure.” He pauses and adds, his voice equal parts wry and melancholy: “I doubt I’d get a warm welcome in Azuria, and after all the lies, I’m not too interested in returning to Vermeil either.”

“Why didn’t you leave when you realized they were lying in the first place?”

“I wanted to, but they offered me something I couldn’t refuse.”

Your head tilts, silently enquiring, and his hold on you tightens so briefly that you’re nearly sure you’re imagining it.

“They told me no harm would come to you as long as I continued to cooperate.”

Your stomach swoops hard. “How long ago was that?”

You feel his uneasy shift. Again, you get the distinct impression that he feels uncomfortably vulnerable as he reveals these things to you, and you can picture his averted gaze and red-hot cheeks.

“Not long after I turned fourteen.” A beat of silence follows, and then: “You’d been my best friend for years by then, and when it finally occurred to me that the battle-bound monsters might be used against Azuria as well as Aenshin, I had to do what I could to protect you.”

“Simon…” You’re filled with the strangest, most incongruent mix of gratitude and regret. “If you had just come to me, we could have figured something out.”

He doesn’t answer, but you know what he’d say if he did: he had been torn between you and his Rathalos, torn between his ongoing need to destroy Aenshin and his increasing fear for your life.

The sea goes on and on as the sun begins to rise behind a shroud of huge iron-colored clouds. In the shelter of Simon’s arms, you feel almost warm enough to sleep, but you force yourself not to close your eyes. Forty-five minutes later, you’re glad you didn’t give in; ahead of you, you can just make out the dark shape of landfall.

“The Sacrosanctum,” Simon says, and you stare at it, hardly able to believe you’ve made it here at last. “Be ready, Princess. There’s a long way to go, and the monsters are as tough as they come.”

You nod, pushing down a sudden swell of unease. Yes, the path ahead will be difficult, but you have no choice. You must beat Clarissa to the egg.

Exhaustion is setting in, much as you try to hide it. It has been two days of near constant vigilance. There are Vermeilian patrols and scouts to avoid, but also an abundance of dangerous monsters. You and Simon hide when you can, fight when you must, and find what warmth there is to be had by huddling close to one another in small alcoves or caves well off the beaten track.

You’re pressed into one such hiding place now, tucked tight between Ratha and Simon. You can feel them both breathing, and the steady rhythm is soothing you to sleep despite your best intentions. Simon’s arm tightens around your shoulders when he notices, and when you glance at him, he murmurs something about resting while you can.

You’re tempted to take him up on that, until you hear a thrumming cry from high above and spot a luminescence moving among the clouds.

“Aenshin,” Simon mutters. You stare at the huge shape in the sky and shudder. From way down here, it seems impossible to fight, much less prevail over, and you haven’t even seen it properly yet. But you can’t worry about that right now. You have to stay focused.

“We should note which direction it’s heading in. It might be returning to its den,” you say, and Simon nods, his eyes still locked onto the sky.

“I wonder where the others are,” you murmur, thinking again how much you miss their support and encouragement.

That gets his attention. He looks at you, his expression softening as he sees the mix of exhaustion and longing on your face. “Don’t worry, Princess. I’m sure they’re on their way here to you.”

You try to smile. “Who do you think is being more annoying about it, Thea or Gaul?”

“Gaul,” Simon says without hesitation. There’s a hint of his old grin tugging at his lips. “It’s definitely Gaul.”

It feels so good to joke with him again that you nearly laugh, but then his eyes flick down to your lips and another feeling entirely flashes through you.

He turns his face away almost before you can process what you’d just seen, but while he is now carefully avoiding your eyes, he keeps his tone light and playful. “We better be ready for a grumpy Ogden. He probably hasn’t had a nap in days.”

“And if he’s grumpy, Kora will be worse since she’ll be the one he complains to,” you add, and he does grin now.

“You know–”

But just as he starts to speak, you hear the unmistakable sounds of riders battling. The smile falls off Simon’s face in an instant, and without a word you both start moving toward the noise. It’s slow going: you have to stay close to the canyon walls, and as you get closer you end up crawling as low to the ground as you can. Finally, as you peer down into an abandoned courtyard at the heart of the old kingdom, you spot the trouble. Battle-bound monsters are fighting a massive Arkveld.

The battle is brutal. The Arkveld is whipping its chain-like wings out at the monsters attacking it, but the Vermeilians outnumber it. They take turns darting in and attacking, over and over, until it’s clear that the Arkveld is badly injured and barely able to fight back.

You can’t bear to watch the end. You slip back to your hiding place and press your face into Ratha’s warm scales. The battle bound monsters are so much stronger than the regular ones. If you were outnumbered like that Arkveld, you and Simon would almost certainly be badly hurt or killed. And if you were to run into Fiero on the other Skyscale…

Simon’s hand finds yours. You lace your fingers through his and hold on tight.

Your new little hideout is dangerously close to an invasive Khezu. Normally you’d be interested in chasing it back to its den, but for now the Vermeilians are giving it a wide berth so you need it for cover. You’re treading a thin line – you must stay close enough for it to avoid notice from the enemy army while staying far enough away to avoid notice from the Khezu itself. Luckily, this isn’t a balancing act you have to maintain for long: a day later, you spot familiar figures gliding over the Glacial Caps on their way to the stronghold.

You and Simon don’t need to say a word; you both climb into Ratha’s saddle and soon you’re flying off to intercept them.

Thea’s glad cries fill the air as they see you and Ratha, and Eleanor looks so happy you suspect she might cry. Kora and Ogden are shouting something at you (impossible to make out with all of Thea’s excitement), and even Gaul seems relieved. But your joy only lasts as long as it takes for the entire group to land; the instant Gaul is on solid ground, he launches himself at Simon. You’re so stunned that it takes you a second to recognize the glint of metal in his hand…but yes, it is a knife, and it is at Simon’s throat.

“Gaul!”

He ignores your cry. The knife doesn’t budge.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t,” he snarls at Simon. The blade digs in now, just a little, but you can see blood welling along its edge. You want to wrestle it away, but one wrong move could prove disastrous for Simon, so you force yourself to stay still.

“Gaul, please – he’s helping me. I swear it,” you say, but your words are rejected immediately.

“He’s saving his own skin. We can’t let him trick us again.”

You’re glancing around the group. They are all silent, and for once you’re not sure if any of them are on your side. How could they be? Simon has betrayed all of them, too.

“Gail, we need him. I promise, he really is helping me. Ena let us go so we could search for Aenshin’s egg. We’ve got to get to it before Vermeil–”

“Yeah, well - his search stops here. We’ll help you. He can go back to his little friends or freeze to death right here for all I care.”

The disgust in Gaul’s voice isn’t surprising exactly, but it does leave you scrambling to explain why Simon should be freed. You’re still wracking your brain when Simon spares you the effort by speaking up himself.

“I made a vow.” He holds Gaul’s gaze, stoic and unafraid. “My life is hers, and as long as I live, I will never leave her side.”

“I can help you keep that vow,” Gaul snarls, and his knife twitches again. A muscle jumps in Simon’s jaw, but he refuses to flinch.

“Gaul, I’m ordering you to let him go.” Your voice comes at last, and it rings with command. “As your captain…and as your princess.”

It makes you uncomfortable, throwing around your royal privilege in this way, but these are the only words you have left that might make Gaul stand down. You need Simon, but it’s more than that; you still care about him. The idea of him being hurt, or of either of these men hurting one another, is more than you can bear.

“Let him go. Let us explain,” you add, softening your tone just a little. Gaul looks at you at last, a narrow look over his shoulder, but even as he does, the knife disappears and Simon is staggering back, released from the other’s iron grip.

“Explain fast,” Gaul snaps, and you gesture for the others to gather round as you explain what has happened since your capture in the gorge.

Simon spares no details. He tells them everything he told you, without bothering to minimize or disguise the depth of his devotion to you. And to your surprise, none of the others question it. They all accept, without even batting an eye, the fact that you have long been the person dearest to him. You can’t help the blush that heats your cheeks as he dedicates himself to you again for their benefit, and Kora gives your arm a quick squeeze.

Ogden sighs when Simon’s words finally run out. “Fine mess you got yourself into. I’m not saying I forgive you – you gotta earn that. But I’m willing to give you a chance to prove those fancy words of yours are true.”

Thea agrees quickly, and Kora murmurs her acceptance as well, but Eleanor only nods. Her doubts are still written clearly on her face, even though she doesn’t speak them aloud. Gaul’s expression, however, remains a hard mask. He points his knife at Simon.

“You’d die for her?” he says to Simon. You think it’s a question, but it doesn’t really sound like one. Simon nods as if it is.

“Fine. I don’t have to like it, but I’ll do what the captain wants.” He turns away from you both and strides off, perhaps to keep a lookout or perhaps just to cool down. Either way, it seems best to give him space for now.

“Well, I’m sure we’ll…find a way to work this out,” Ogden says doubtfully. He turns his uncharacteristically solemn gaze to you. “I’ve got a bit of news for you, Princess…but it isn’t exactly good news.”

Your heart sinks, but it isn’t as though you’d been expecting something different.

“That’s okay,” you tell him, “I’m ready.”

But you’re not, not really.

“There’s been an attack,” he says. “At the peace talks. Your father has been hurt.”

The ground seems to swell and drop under your feet like a wave. You glance at Eleanor – involuntarily, unfairly, though you can’t help it – until Kora sets you right.

“It was Aenshin,” she says. “It seemed to want the battle-bound monsters, but we were all caught in the crossfire.”

“How bad is it? Is he…” Dying, you mean to say, but the word refuses to leave your mouth.

“He was covering our escape when Aenshin unleashed its power. He has...been infected with crystallization, Princess.” Her eyes are so sad, and she lays a hand on your trembling arm. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” you say, feeling strangely numb. “Thank you for telling me.”

“The peace talks themselves didn’t go so well.” Eleanor sounds just as apologetic as Kora. “We weren’t expecting them to, but my sister…”

“Has war officially broken out?” Simon asks. There is a streak of crimson at his throat from where he’d swiped the blood away, and you force yourself to look away.

“Aenshin attacked both sides before battle could truly break out, but…” Eleanor’s expression is pained. “I think we’re out of time.”

“Then let’s get moving,” Kora says. “We can go faster now that we’re together.”

You nod and draw out your map to show them where you and Simon have already searched. Eleanor makes a quick meal from the rations the Rangers have carried north with them, and then the group mounts up and heads toward the heart of the Sacrosanctum.

Behind you, Simon is quiet. You get the sense that he’s scouring his memories of this place, hoping for anything that might point you in the right direction. Perhaps he’s also struggling with the new coldness between himself and the rest of the team, and you shoot a look at him over your shoulder. You can feel your furrowed brows and wish you could wipe the concern off your face, but it’s impossible.

He smiles softly at you. “Don’t worry about me,” he says. “I’d be more upset if our friends hadn’t been so protective.”

You nod and turn back toward the shattered stronghold. You’re not sure what awaits you beyond, but at least you and the Rangers will face it together.

Kora and Thea find the winding cave, a passageway through the rocky hillside which leads away from the crystallized stronghold to the southwest. It’s deep and bends away from the entrance, leaving them no choice but to enter it and explore if they want to discover what’s inside. Something tugs you forward as you stare at it. It feels almost instinctive, as though you can feel yourself drawing closer to Aenshin with every step. Even without that feeling, you can see the gleam of crystal further in, a sure sign that the elder dragon had passed through this area before.

Simon’s eyes meet yours. There’s a flicker of something in his gaze, a memory that’s still too hazy to rely on, but you can tell he’s feeling the same tug you are – the one pulling you toward the cave. With a fortifying breath, you take the lead and enter the rocky passageway without any further hesitation.

It’s hard to tell if you’re alone in here. The light is reflecting off of the faceted egg quartz, making the shadows shift and dance. Deep within their crystal prisons, the silhouettes of monsters seem almost to be breathing, and the trickle of icy water down the rock walls makes the hair on your arms stand on end.

“It’s battle-bound,” Gaul says as he examines one of the frozen monsters. Beside him, Eleanor’s lips tighten.

“They all are,” she agrees. “These must be the original ones. The ones made into weapons by our ancestors.”

You turn toward one of the encased creatures, peering through the egg quartz to note the differences between the older armor and the new, but Ogden’s voice shatters your concentration a moment later.

“Uh…Captain,” he says, his usually jovial tone transformed by unease, “I think you should come and take a look at this.”

You turn and move deeper into the cave, skirting past a huge formation of egg quartz and rock which had obscured the path ahead from your gaze. Ogden comes into view first, but as you finish rounding the obstacle, you see what had caught his attention. There is a huge carcass on the floor of the cave...a carcass that isn’t encased in crystal.

Beside you, Simon makes a soft, worried noise.

Thea pushes between you both and makes her way to Ogden’s side to get a closer look, and Gaul immediately starts scanning the area for any clues – or threats – you may have missed. You move forward with Kora and Eleanor, trying to make out more details on the body in the dim light.

The fallen monster is unmistakably an Azure Rathalos. It had been battle-bound, and it had sold its life dearly; all around it, the walls and floor of the cave are splattered with blood. Cold soot marks the places where its fireballs had missed their target, and deep gouges have been carved out of the rock by its wicked claws.

“It’s one of the old ones,” Kora says to you. “Look at the armor.”

“The old ones? But—”

“She’s right, look.” Eleanor has moved away, toward an outcropping of egg quartz. She points, and you look beyond her arm to a jagged hole in the crystal. All round it are the glittering debris of some forces exploding out of it…some monster exploding out of it.

“They’re still alive in there,” Ogden breathes, looking around him at all the other monsters in their crystal cages.

“Yes,” Eleanor says. “And they can break out on their own.”

Suddenly the cave, already eerie, becomes bone-chilling. You are surrounded by the remnants of an entire army, dormant and waiting for any reason to break free and attack. And they have all had their natural abilities enhanced by battle-binding.

Nor is that the only reason to feel unsettled, because something had passed through this cave recently. Something strong enough to attack and defeat that Azure Rathalos. You’re beginning to get the feeling you know what – or who – it was.

Simon has drawn close to you again, his arm brushing yours as he stares hard at the fallen monster. His eyes have that look again, so intense that they seem to blaze even in the dim light of the cave. You can feel his tension, see his need to protect you rising in his countenance, and you feel your own courage stir. You must press on, and you won’t let fear of the unknown stop you.

“Come on,” you say. “We’ve got to keep searching.”

Emerging from the cave is disorienting. The sun had been setting when you’d entered it. It is fully down now, and the stars are obscured by thick clouds, so it hardly feels like you’ve left the cave at all. The air feels heavy here too, pressing down on you even as a night breeze tugs at your clothes.

Before you, the egg quartz glitters under the shrouded sky, and within is a huge egg, clearly visible in its crystallized cradle. Your heart is thudding like a drum in your chest as you study it, and dimly you’re aware of the rest of the Rangers murmuring in relief and amazement behind you. You can’t make a sound, and Simon draws closer to you, just as silent as you are. You’re trembling ever-so-slightly, but he must know; the back of his hand brushes yours in silent understanding, and you feel a sudden, intense urge to lace your fingers in his.

You’re just about to step forward, just about dig your chisel free of your gear and lift it to the egg quartz, when the sound of movement on a ledge behind you makes you freeze. Above you, previously hidden by the steep angle of the cliff, a Skyscale Rathalos lifts itself to its full height. And on its back is the very person you’d been dreading to meet since you’d seen the body of that Azure Rathalos…Fiero.

[r4bbitmilk]

newlyweds!!!!!!!!1

[madamesphinxie]

The Rangers and Simon

It’s a shame that we couldn’t get some of Simon’s individual relationship with the Rangers, but it makes sense we really don’t get much. He’s not the protagonist, the Heir is. His most important relationship is with the Heir so naturally it gets more focused on than whether or not he and Ogden play chess together on the weekends. Now if the story were way longer (because logically, this would be something that’d have to be expanded on way more than the length of the game would permit or the reveal and defection from Vermeil’s espionage would’ve had to happen sooner) I would’ve loved to see how the Rangers would’ve treated Simon after his reveal and during his work towards atonement, especially if we get Simon side stories in a future update (PLEASE DEV TEAM PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.) Intentions aside, the heir wasn’t the only person he lied to and judging by their personalities, I think we can draw a pretty good inference on what the individual responses are.

Thea is very, very likely to forgive him the fastest. There’s not a single bad-tempered bone in that girl’s body. If the Captain holds no anger towards him, then neither will she. She looks up to the protagonist the most and cares greatly for the Captain’s opinion. Thea has the least connection to Simon; she hasn’t known him nearly as long as the others, probably only heard of him through his connection to the captain, but she’s a sweet girl with a compassionate streak. She’d understand his motivations very easily and empathize with his situation. Even if she’s distrustful of him at first, a long talk would soften her up considerably and she’d treat him no differently. She’d probably the most supportive of him atoning, especially if the relationship between him and the heir is more than platonic.

Ogden would be second on the list of people that would move on and forgive quickly. He’s an easygoing man and judging from his line in Galyad where he wants to invite Simon on an expedition and “chew the fat” together with him and the princess, he’s already looking forward to what lays ahead for all of them and Simon is included in that. Ogden lives in the moment and looks towards the future continuously. He doesn’t really like to look back. He’s painfully aware of his own faults and while angry in the moment, I fully believe he would push Simon to focus on proving himself again to them all and treat him no differently. Especially when he knows that the disease consuming Simon is the very same one that took his son. I think that’d be a major factor in understanding Simon and help them rebuild their friendship.

Eleanor’s connection to the Rangers is new, but Simon’s predicament is not in her eyes. She understands desperation better than most and doesn’t really seem to have any negative feelings about him when he’s brought up. She’s understanding of the Heir’s situation and is compassionate when the Heir struggles with the truth about Simon and the uncertainty of how much of the relationship was real. It’s easy for her to understand how deep her sister and Fiero’s role goes in Simon’s employment as a Vermeillian agent and just how messed up the situation is from both his and the others’ perspective. She gives the vibes that she’d let bygones be bygones based solely off of her own circumstances with someone she very much loves in spite of far more aggressive slights. She forgave her sister for worse, but she won’t harshly rebuke anyone that second-guesses him. She doesn’t defend her sister’s actions to anyone, just explain her mindset and Simon’s own actions being far less cutthroat will make it easier for her to grapple with. But she’s also not blind to the effects of his actions.

Kora is a far more complicated story, because there’s a whole personal layer to her that’s separate from loyalties to the Captain and Azuria: Amara. Kora looked up to Amara. When she was younger, Amara took her under her wing. She was very loyal to the queen, not just as her attendant but as her friend. The disappearance of Amara and the uncertainty of her status really hurt Kora. Simon withholding that information, even if he was under duress from Vermeil and otherwise couldn’t without revealing the truth of his story, is not going to fly by her easily. That was her closest friend and he knew what happened. Intentions are very easy to push aside with that realization. But then there is the Captain. Kora has been around the Heir since they were a child, even if she didn’t interact consistently. Kora cares very deeply for them, and does step into a more motherly role in Amara’s absence. She would be civil towards Simon out of respect for her Captain, but is short and impatient with him. Simon won’t hold it against her, he knows he screwed up. But he greatly respects her, and knowing how badly he hurt her is going to fill him with shame. But just like Eleanor, Kora understands desperation. She understands doing what you must to put food on the table. She understands how agonizing it is to see someone you love slowly pass from Crystalisis. I think that will eventually bridge the gap between the two and in time, they reconcile. It takes some time but she will find it in her heart to forgive him. He was just a child when he was made into a spy, after all (at least as I remember.) But it’s going to be a bit of a road before then, and Simon will be patient through it. 

Gaul is less forgiving. Gaul is loyal, he doesn’t care for nonsense, and slights where he feels his trust is broken or otherwise violated are treated very seriously, (ex. It really irritated him when one of the Furtive Five spilled info that he wanted concealed.) His loyalties lie not just to the Heir, who he cares a great deal for, but to both the king and Azuria itself. Simon’s actions— both directly and indirectly —did lead to soldiers being hurt and the lives of the royal family and the Rangers being put in danger. Doesn’t matter that Simon came back around and helped defeat Aenshin. He almost got them all killed. Gaul’s not going to let that slide easily. He cares about doing what’s right, even when it puts himself at risk. He’s selfless to his very core, and regardless of intentions, he’s not going to let go of what happened so quickly. Like Kora, he’ll be cordial at first but he’s far, FAR less patient than her. Especially in the early days of Simon’s return. He’s maybe one strong disagreement with Simon away from really snapping at him over what happened and a serious altercation breaking out between the two. But Gaul isn’t a person that holds grudges forever, at least from what we do see. He was angry with Ogden for him not being present in his best friend’s life, but he grows a strong respect, trust, and appreciation for Ogden over time. Given enough time and Simon proving himself to Gaul, they can restore their relationship. But it’s an even longer road than Kora’s and the Heir will have to help keep the peace.

[madamesphinxie]

I’m gonna be so fr, how Wisteria didn’t fold immediately when he stepped out in that armor is beyond me, like yeah she’s going through whiplash but at the same time that armor was flattering as frick on him. Like your kinda-boyfriend came back from the dead, and he’s got hot armor with clawed gauntlets?

like if it weren’t for the fact putting her dog in evil steroid armor was part of the deal, she probably would’ve thought about it a lil more. Still would’ve said no though.

[madamesphinxie]

Concept: Arken is Very, Very Unhappy with Simon

Y’all Arken is probably going to have huge beef with Simon over the events of the game. Putting aside his role as king, though Arken and his child aren’t super close, that’s still his kid. He expects highly of them to a degree that can be stifling at best and smothering at worst, but this is the same man that punched a dragon whale in the eye for his kid and got hit with a beam that’s going to turn him into a very large Swarovski crystal figurine. He undoubtedly loves his kid. But he still gets an subpar grade in expressing his feelings verbally. So when word gets to the king about Simon’s role in the plot, Arken is livid. Not only did his actions put Azuria at risk, it put his only child, the sole heir to the throne, and the last shred of Amara that he still has, in the line of danger. And that’s something Arken cannot forget nor forgive so easily.

That being said, Arken isn’t unfair. He puts his kingdom first and foremost and given Simon’s pivotal role in saving it and his clear desire to atone for his betrayal, that’d be enough to have some leniency. And of course, the Heir and the Rangers will plead Simon’s case. After a very, very, VERY long conversation, Arken would likely grant him a pardon for his part in the plot. If not for the understanding that Simon was a child manipulated into being a spy (which he does understand and has huge issues with Fiero and Clarissa, depending on when and how much she was involved at the time), then for the sake of his child. But that doesn’t mean Arken is going to forgive him personally. The King may not be vocal about his feelings, but you know he’s understandably angry at Simon.  King Arken knows the bond his child and Simon had as children, as well as the hurt and danger it put the Heir through. Even if he wasn’t overtly close to Simon, Arken has two working eyes. It’s that bond and understanding of Simon’s predicament that keep him from full on hating Simon, but equally not letting go of the hurt it caused so quickly. Simon wants to atone? Then Arken will give him something that he thinks will prove Simon’s loyalty to Azuria and to the crown. He’s not going to make it easy either.

But Simon’s equally ready to prove himself to the King and to Azuria. His relationship with the King was already pretty complicated given how he almost killed Ratha V, pressure from the advisors or not, and witnessing the heir’s rocky relationship with Arken firsthand. But he does hold respect for the King, and is willing to do anything to prove himself. If not for his own atonement to Azuria, then for the sake of his best friend.

TL;DR- King Arken is peeved off with Simon and is about to make it his problem. Simon is ready to make his atonement the King’s problem.

[madamesphinxie]

Simon seemingly avoiding compliments, praise, and other words of affirmation lives in my head rent free because you can’t look at that kicked puppy of a man and tell me he thinks think he deserves them from the heir. Just getting thanked for saving the protagonist has him deflecting hard like “hey look our tree haha, ANYWAYS-“ 

“Oh maybe he doesn’t like words of affirmation or praise-” no, be still and hear me. He gives words of praise and encouragement freely to the Heir about their kindness, their strength, that they’d be a ruler that would secure peace. He likes giving words of affirmation. Bro is a guilt-ridden yearner, he wants to be told he’s loved and good because beneath everything, he knows being a spy and betraying his best friend/it’s complicated is not what he wants. He was supposed to get close but everything about their friendship is real. He can’t even deny it when directly challenged because the Heir sees right through him. The Heir has it right on the money, none of this has ever been who he is, and because of this consistent self-betrayal of character, Simon doesn’t believe he deserves praise. He likes to be told that he’s all these things, but can’t accept them or won’t accept them, not until he proves to himself he’s worthy of them. 

BUT when all is said and done and he and the Heir reunite, the Heir is going to bully him with words of affirmation (At least mine is, she missed him and she’s kissing him on the lips and shii.)

[humm-plays-games]

Some doodles based on responses received

(Will do more later)

[r4bbitmilk]

⚠️Major spoilers for MHS3 under the cut⚠️

MHS3 Simon x OC 4 page comic commission. Yay!!

mabuhay ang bagong kasal

[bouncing-on-simon]

A glimpse of the future...

Just felt like playing with my dolls today tee hee

srry these are rough i just had to include these... they make me sick/pos...

[madamesphinxie]

On Arken and Amara

These two are a fascinating case, I think. Because Amara straight up abdicated her own throne in Vermeil to marry into the Azurian house, him trying to convince her not to cross the Meridian but ultimately not going after her to force her to return, and his understanding of Amara‘s determined nature, I think their marriage was actually based on love before politics. 

They weren’t trying to unite the two warring countries, given the fact that she gave up the throne to marry and becomes the Azurian Queen instead. Now we don’t know what the political process is of marriage in the realm of MHS specifically, like consort statuses or anything of the sort. Seems like the crown is strictly passed from parent to child but that’s because Amara is gone and the Heir has no other relatives. If it was for solely for political gain, chances are she wouldn’t have to trade her title as Queen of Vermeil, and it seemed her choice was not a universally accepted one in her homeland if Clarissa’s animosity towards her is anything to go by. Amara seems has a theme of following her heart above all else, and isn’t finicky about her dedications. She loved her child and when danger came, she was willing to face the power of an elder dragon for a chance to save them. Arken is a lot like her, but more about holding still and bracing for what’s to come, while she’s more active in her need to protect. 

On Arken’s part, he’s more difficult to quantify because his whole theme is about following his head. He acts with extreme caution to the point it becomes inaction and largely keeps his thoughts to himself. Arken doesn’t speak about Amara, neither positively nor negatively. He just seems to avoid the conversation in general and let comments pass. Up until that pivotal moment after he’s infected with Crystalisis and in the arms of his child, we get a glimpse of how he feels about the situation. He tried to convince Amara to stay, but when she leaves, he fundamentally understood that she cannot be swayed when she makes a decision. He doesn’t attempt to order her or otherwise prevent her from leaving through using power as the birthright king of Azuria. He just continues his plan to get rid of the Rathalos that did not bond during the rite. He’s definitely as stubborn as Amara is.

Even as he tries to execute Ratha V, he’s visibly shocked she would attempt to disrupt the execution. You can see it on his face. And when she is gone, Arken retreats into himself. Amara’s apparent betrayal hit the king harder than I think people realize. He doesn’t defend Amara’s actions, but doesn’t demonizes or really critiques her to his advisors nor his child. (At least not from what I can remember.) Like the heir, he doesn’t blame people for making the obvious assumption. He wants to maintain the Wyverian Covenant and keep Azuria out of danger, and it’s counterproductive to his stance to go and blab about Amara’s plan because that’s going to require breaking the Covenant further and risk the ire of the elder dragon. So he must let her go and be silent. 

He handles the Heir leaving in the same way he deals with Amara leaving: he says nothing. He keeps the truth hidden. While Amara’s leave was loud and undeniable, the heir’s is quiet. While yes, there’s a political reason to keep it under wraps, I think his choice has the dual aspect of protecting his child from scrutiny. The Heir lives in the shadow of Amara’s betrayal, and if it got out that the child of the Turncoat Queen followed her path, the Heir is 100% getting their very own patented traitor name. He loves his child undeniably, though he’s become distant with time. 

He’s hard on his successor, both as a result of the heightened scrutiny on them as Amara’s child and a result of their collective responsibility to the kingdom as royals. They need to be above reproach in every regard and he expects as much. Still, he defends them from the advisors implications, pressing that the Heir will do the right thing for Azuria. I think it’s also layered with internalized hurt from losing Amara, some subconscious defense mechanism to detach. At least that’s my interpretation, so don’t quote me on that. Regardless, in the end, he risks his life to save his only child and puts all his faith in them to save their kingdom, not just as an heir but as a ranger.

Skipping ahead, we see him after Aenshin’s end watching from afar as Amara, still an amnesiac, reconnects with the child she no longer remembers. He watches their child take off and soar to greater heights, and the woman he married walk away once again. She no longer remember their life together or their family, and I don’t doubt he knows this. She’s gets to be a new person now, and he’s a dying man, slowly but surely. I think it motivates him to let go of Amara one last time. He doesn’t chase her. He lets her be. Whether fate brings them back together or keeps them apart, we don’t know and it’s intentionally left that way. I like to think Amara’s memories will slowly return at least for the sake of the heir, but she will never return to power. Maybe she and Arken get to know each other all over again, unburdened. But that’s a topic for another day.

(The fact she and Kris did not die is a miracle, a regular sperm whale bellowing at you can kill you so imagine what a peeved off sky whale that big can do. Memory loss was the best case scenario. Seriously look up what loud noises can do to a person’s body, it’s scary.)

TL;DR Arken and Amara are more tragic of a pair than ppl think and are a result of passive vs. active behavior compounded with a whale hitting her with the forget-me stick.

[madamesphinxie]

Crystalisis

So it’s got no cure, right? At least from what we know, per Simon, Corbin, King Arken and several others. It can’t be transmitted from person-to-person and can only be inflicted by Aenshin directly or possibly being in places she just struck, but is a chronic progressive illness. In the 10 years Simon’s had it, it hasn’t taken his arm completely so it’s SUPER slow but in cases like Arken and Fiero, they got hit pretty bad. If it can get through the seams of fabric, they’re looking at a really aggravated case; small dose of radiation vs. demon core type of stuff here. Honestly it looks like both Arken and Fiero will pass from it before Simon ever does. 

But with the passing of Aenshin and the coming end of the Encroachment (though likely very slow,) how could that affect Crystalisis? We know the Ratha Twins can resist crystallization and Ratha V cured Amara of it when she was struck with Aenshin’s direct attack but not Simon, so purification has to happen immediately afterwards. It’s likely impossible for Simon to be cured of Crystalisis, but be this HC or inference, it may be possible that being close to Ratha V might slow if not stop the progression of the disease. Simon will not be cured of its effects. He’s going to deal with the discomfort his whole life, but if this is the case, he may get to live his whole life before it fully takes him.

But maybe that’s just the ramblings of a bitter ol hag that wants him to live happily ever after with his princess.

[madamesphinxie]

She wants to kiss her bff so bad she looks stupid (the feeling is mutual, they’re both stupid.)